VANCOUVER (Reuters) – Canadian ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir were only 7 and 9 when they teamed up in 1997 but 13 years later they have the opportunity to become the first North American couple to win Olympic ice dancing gold.

“We’re so lucky to have grown up together, and to have grown up skating together,” says 20-year old Virtue. “Not many people get to chance to compete on home soil — we have to embrace it and own it.”

VANCOUVER, Feb 18 (Reuters) – Canadian ice dancers Tessa
Virtue and Scott Moir were only 7 and 9 when they teamed up in
1997 but 13 years later they have the opportunity to become the
first North American couple to win Olympic ice dancing gold.

“We’re so lucky to have grown up together, and to have grown
up skating together,” says 20-year old Virtue. “Not many people
get to chance to compete on home soil — we have to embrace it
and own it.”

VANCOUVER (Reuters) – The speed of NASCAR, the skill of motocross and the danger of bull-riding — welcome to the world of ski cross.

Making its Winter Games debut in Vancouver from Sunday, ski cross skiers race down a fast-paced course filled with sharp turns, jumps and moguls. The first to cross the finish line wins.

VANCOUVER, Feb 18 (Reuters) – The speed of NASCAR, the skill
of motocross and the danger of bull-riding — welcome to the
world of ski cross.

Making its Winter Games debut in Vancouver from Sunday, ski
cross skiers race down a fast-paced course filled with sharp
turns, jumps and moguls. The first to cross the finish line
wins.

VANCOUVER (Reuters) – For five-time Olympian Jacqui Cooper, her late arrival at these Games are about saving the best until last.

Cooper, the first aerial skier to win five overall World Cup titles, has been shutout in medaling for the past five Games. The often-injured skier’s best showing came in 2006 at Turin, where she placed eighth.

VANCOUVER, Feb 17 (Reuters) – For five-time Olympian Jacqui
Cooper, her late arrival at these Games are about saving the
best until last.

Cooper, the first aerial skier to win five overall World Cup
titles, has been shutout in medalling for the past five Games.
The often-injured skier’s best showing came in 2006 at Turin,
where she placed eighth.